Engineers play an integral role in the process of finding a “perfect” material or ratio of materials to maximize the desired properties of an invention and decrease the amount of negative effects of other properties. For example, when developing the perfect material for use in contact lenses, an engineer will have to test many different materials before finding the right one. A hydrogel is a polymer similar to plastic that has favorable optical properties and favorable flexibility/strength but like paper and glasses/ceramics is hydrophilic, which is necessary for a contact lens to function properly. Testing a hydrogel, which is favorable for all three of the main properties needed for a contact lens to function properly, is the main job of a biomedical engineer developing contact lenses today. They make a hydrogel and find the perfect “ratio” of polymer to water. The composition of the hydrogel needs to be hydrophilic enough to maintain a wet environment in the eye but not too hydrophilic so that the contact begins to swell and change sizeand shape. Students will engineer a lens using 2 different materials. They will determine the correct material and the concentration that has similar properties as a contact lens, while discovering the correct optical properties, tensile strength and hydrophobicity. Kit contains enough materials for 15 groups. Teacher’s Manual and Student Study Guide copymasters are included.
In this lab, students will explore the materials that biomedical engineers use when creating prosthetic devices. They will first investigate the physical properties of various metals, ceramics, and polymers to understand how they differ, and determine which materials would be most suitable for use in a hip replacement prosthetic. Students will then engineer their own prosthetic arm that meets certain design requirements and mimics the functionality of a real hand. Kit contains enough materials for 15 groups. Teacher’s Manual and Student Study Guide copy masters are included.
Learn how environmental scientists study pollution by testing air and water samples from your local area! This kit includes nine different tests to determine the air and water quality of samples you collect from your community. Investigate your water quality by testing for dissolved oxygen levels, water hardness, pH, and phosphate and chloride content. Then, test for particulate and chemical pollutants in the air, measure smoke density, and learn how excess carbon dioxide in air can affect your environment. Teacher’s Guide and Student Analysis copymasters are included. There are enough materials for a class of 30 working in groups.